How Deferred Deep Links Work on iOS and How to Integrate Them
iOS Universal Links only work when an app is already installed, routing users via NSUserActivity — but they cannot carry link data across a fresh install. For users who tap a link, visit the App Store, and install the app, a deferred deep link mechanism is required, handled server-side and fetched on first launch. The LinkTrail SDK addresses both scenarios, offering installation via CocoaPods or Swift Package Manager and configuration through Xcode's Associated Domains capability. Developers must correctly set up an Apple App Site Association file — including the full Team ID prefix, a common source of silent failures — and call the appropriate lifecycle method to resolve incoming links. A separate first-open API call handles the deferred case, using probabilistic matching to route new users to the correct in-app destination.
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